Self Learning

There are many rasikas who make all out effort to self-learn Carnatic Music. Normally they select Keyboard for the purpose. The host of self learning facilities available with Keyboard attracts them to choose it.

After trying a song several times , they are normally dissatisfied with their result . We come across several people with their frustration. The main grievances they express is that, the tune they play does not sound similar to what they expect.

At this juncture, the rasikas are to understand the basic principles of Carnatic Music that , it is not that playing with 12 Swaras or pressing 12 Keys of the Keyboard of the Octave attempting to bring Music.

The melody or the tune or roughly the Ragam are to contain Gamakas[ Recommended method and style of oscillating Swaras ], Anuswaras [ an auxiliary Swara heard faintly and attached to the main Swara] and with proper Sruthistahana [ subdivision of a Swara].

There are 10 varieties of Gamakas, and 22 Sruthisthanas in an Octave. It should be understood the limitation of the instruments to play the above nuances.

There is no means to write down the these infinitesimal details either and also it is to be understood that the Music is language of emotions and feelings. It has to be experienced.

Hence, these finer points are to be learnt through a Guru... Therefore Carnatic Music is Guru Muki Vidhya.

Geetham

Geetham
Many rasikas often confuse Geetham to Keerthana. Though generally Geetham means ‘Song’, it denotes in music parlance a type of Musical composition with its specific characteristics . Geetham is a Musical piece taught to the students after completing the chapters on Swaravali and its related exercises including Alankaram. Therefore Geetham is an Abyasa Gana variety and not a concert piece. Hence, Geetham are not performed in Katcheries. Whereas , Keerthanas are an advance musical items and a concert piece as well.
On examining a Geetham, we can find that they contain Swara portion and Sahithya portion. By practicing Swara portion one can become familiar with melody and its pattern, of the Ragam which after practicing well, to be replaced with corresponding Sahithya part.

Swara part is called Datthu and Sahithya part is called Mathu. Sahithya portion contain vowel extension of Sahithyas too, enabling the learner to acquire good voice.

Geethams are small Musical pieces contains no subdivisions like Pallavi, Anupallavi etc. It is rendered in one go as Sahithyam without repeating any line. Normally, they are composed in medium tempo and in variety of Thalams.

Famous Geetham are ‘ Sri Gananatha Sindoora Varna…., Kereya Neeranu…. Padumanabha….., Kundha Gowra….. all in Malahari Ragam, composed by Sri Purandara Dasa. Apart from these there are other Geetham like Varaveena in Mohana Ragam, Aana Lekara in Sudda Saveri Ragam, Mandara Darare in Kamboji Ragam, Kamala Sulochana in Ananda Bhairavi Ragam, Kamalajaadala in Kalyani Ragam and many more.